More homeowners are taking on DIY projects in their homes. Finishing a project yourself saves you money and gives you a sense of accomplishment. There’s great satisfaction when you improve your home on your own and it looks like you hired a professional. Use these 5 tips to paint like a pro.
How to Paint Like a Pro
Depending on your skillset, there may be remodeling and redecorating tasks that you don’t feel comfortable handling. However, a fresh coat of paint can update any space. By keeping a few tips in mind, it isn’t difficult to do a good job. Even if you feel relatively comfortable with a brush or a roller in your hand, there are still steps you can take to help you paint like a pro.
Don’t Skimp on Quality
It’s tempting to try to save money when you’re shopping for paint, brushes, rollers, tape, and drop cloths. However, in most cases, you get what you pay for. If you’re going to paint a space in your home yourself, you’re already saving money. Choosing higher-quality products gives your paint job a much more professional look.
Many factors go into the quality of the products you use on your paint job, including the nap of the roller you choose. Spend some time discussing with a salesperson what type of surface you are painting, so you get the right rollers for your surface.
Inspect and Prepare the Space
There may be cracked, peeling, or flaking areas on most of the walls of your home. If you want to paint like a pro, addressing these trouble spots first is a necessary step. Scrape and sand down these worn-out areas, so your paint has a consistent and smooth surface to adhere to.
Use Primer to Paint Like a Pro
Many paints have a primer already in them, and those may suffice for your project. However, if it has been more than eight years since the surface has been painted, or the surface is not smooth and clean, you should buy a separate primer. Also, if you are painting a lighter color over a darker color, a primer is beneficial. This will add a step to your process, but the overall quality of your finished project will be significant.
Combine Your Paint
If you choose to buy multiple gallons of paint, there can be a slight variance in the shade, even if they are all supposed to be the same color. Have the salesperson help you decide how much paint you will need for your project and buy one large paint container. This process is called “boxing” paint. This will guarantee that your paint is consistent from beginning to end.
Work From Top to Bottom
One of the basics of how to paint like a pro is the importance of painting from the top of a wall to the bottom. Amateur painters usually leave drips and other telltale signs that they did the job themselves while professionals paint over these spaces while the paint is still wet. You will still need to trim around any crown molding and baseboards with a brush, but when using a roller, always work from top to bottom.
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